January Crowd Levels , Weather ?

[ddpaints]

We are going the exact same dates as you are. An early celebration for dd's 3rd b-day on the 30th. I have been at the beginning of Jan (new years) 2 times once in Oct and once Nov Thanksgiving week. Although honestly I can't complain about the crowds , I am really looking forward to our Jan trip at this time of the month. We are driving so I will pack for fall and winter type conditions with a few things summery if I see the forecast might call for it. I don't really swim , never found the time since I like seeing everything when I'm there or I have little ones that need naps not more wearing out in the pool. Can't wait to get there as this will be dd's first trip to the world (outside my belly). Last year we took the kids on a cruise.

 

[vacation_junkie]

We are going the exact same dates as you are. An early celebration for dd's 3rd b-day on the 30th. I have been at the beginning of Jan (new years) 2 times once in Oct and once Nov Thanksgiving week. Although honestly I can't complain about the crowds , I am really looking forward to our Jan trip at this time of the month. We are driving so I will pack for fall and winter type conditions with a few things summery if I see the forecast might call for it. I don't really swim , never found the time since I like seeing everything when I'm there or I have little ones that need naps not more wearing out in the pool. Can't wait to get there as this will be dd's first trip to the world (outside my belly). Last year we took the kids on a cruise.

We didn't see any cruises that were interesting this year so i thought we'd do disney again! We have cruised out of Cocoa Beach/Port canaveral many times and have found the temps comfortable for the day before or after we cruised! I don't mind capri's and light shirt! Usually in January we laugh at all the Local folks with their mittens and hats on and i'm wearing my flip flops!! Last April disney trip it was sooooooo busy!

 

[ddpaints]

We didn't see any cruises that were interesting this year so i thought we'd do disney again! We have cruised out of Cocoa Beach/Port canaveral many times and have found the temps comfortable for the day before or after we cruised! I don't mind capri's and light shirt! Usually in January we laugh at all the Local folks with their mittens and hats on and i'm wearing my flip flops!! Last April disney trip it was sooooooo busy!

We did the Disney cruise . My Dh and I met on the Magic and during our trip it was diverted from the western due to a hurricane. We decided last year was the year to go again. We figured less chance of a hurricane. Instead we ended up with some nasty high seas and I was very sea sick for the day oh well. It was rather cool for most of our trip and was down right cold on Castaway Cay. We both said if we ever do a Caribbean cruise again we will just chill on the ship until we get to CC. Kind of a been there done that might as well relax. DS never wanted to leave the clubs and I think when dd is old enough she will either.
Now if we do one of the other cool itineraries I'm sure I will be off the ship.

Honestly for me the crowds at Disney World would be more of a bother than the weather so I'm more than happy to go when there may be a chill in the air then when I end up hyperventilating from getting stuck in crowd. I hope you have a great trip. We may see each other and never know it.

 

[Colleen27]

We usually cruise every January. We leave out of Buffalo..knock on wood we have never had a weather delay in 13 years! So i'm hoping for good flying weather again!

I'll join you in that hope. We're going to WDW Jan 21 to 29, leaving from Detroit. It'll be our 3rd winter Disney trip plus one to Mexico and we've never had a problem with flights either, but I'm a really nervous flyer so its something I'll fret about right up until we're at the airport. (And the rest of the year, I worry about hurricanes )

And on the bright side - while January might not be the best time for enjoying Florida weather, it absolutely IS the best time for a nice break from the Michigan (and Ontario) cold.

 

[GraceMonica]

My family and I go every January! Late January (every year around the 19th or the 20th) The weather is never terrible! (I'm from Maryland so while my state is getting snow, I'm down in florida just wearing a light jacket!) It's always quite nice.

The past few years or so it hasn't been totally bad. Pack cool weather clothing and check the forecast for the day so you can be prepared. It does rain maybe once or twice while we're there, but its never too bad.

The thing you need to watch out for are the Tour groups (They all dress the same in bright colors so they're easy to spot.) They're a lot of Brazilian teenagers (at least all of the ones I've encountered in the past were) and the only time I find them amusing is when they start the wave while waiting for Fantasmic to start at HS. They're not terrible though. Sometimes they stay together as one large group and other times they spread out, so it's not as bad if you get behind them in line. Oh and since they're a lot of teenagers so you'll have to excuse them. Most of the time they don't listen to the CM directions, so when you're being seat for a show like philharmagic, it can be really annoying that you're hoping over them because they can't understand what they're being told.

I find January a very lovely time to go and hopefully you'll enjoy it just as much!

 

[Yubbie]

I've been to WDW several times during January and February. I was there the third week of this past January 2011.

The mornings and evenings were chilly. I don't remember the exact temps, but we wore sweatshirts/hoodies, jackets, and hats during the mornings and evenings. We did have one evening where it poured non-stop for several hours even though that was the dry season.

In terms of crowds, I didn't notice many tour groups during that week, except at Fantasmic. The crowd calendars had that week at 2s, 3s, and 4s. The reality was it was crazy busy for that time of year. It definitely was not 2s, 3s, and 4s. It was "spring break" level crowds. There were two evenings in the MK, when they opened up the area behind Main Street to allow people to exit the park.

Overall, the only real difference between January/February and the other times is what type of clothes you're wearing as you tour the parks, the park hours are a little shorter, and there are a few more ride closures.

 

[temom]

We Nova Scotians did Janaury 20-30th in 2008
We actually bought hats and Mitts for Wishes one evening. An evening to see your breath.
The kids got in the outdoor pool twice at night the 10 days.
We did typhoon It was fine for Mid afternoon.
Mornings getting on the buses were chilly.
Not a drop of rain that trip+++
Everything was walk on. !!!
DD and DH did Rockin Roller coaster about 20 times in a row.!

Definetly a good time to Go!

 

[GraceMonica]

is there a specific week(s) the tour groups arrive or is it throughout the month

There are different tour groups arriving throughout the month...but from what I've noticed is that they're usually are not a lot of them in the middle of the week. AND they do the typical touristy stuff. MK on the weekend (Which from what I've heard is possibly the worst time to go!) Sometimes you get lucky and don't see them much, other times you're at DTD and they bombard you in World Of Disney. (That happened a few years back, it was quite annoying for the WoD to be THAT busy!)

 

[danimaroo]

It always amazes me how different people's perspectives are while at Disney. We were there this past January, from I think the 19th-28th, or around there, and had absolutely no problem with the weather, except for one night. There were tornado warnings in the area, but it worked well for us as we needed a night in vs. out at a park (because we were pooped!). Other than that, it was not that cold out. We usually found ourselves in t-shirts and shorts during the day, and a hoodie and shorts during the evenings. We went swimming multiple times, as it was in the 70s most days, and even jumped in the pool at GF one night when it was chilly out. I don't mind since the pools are heated and it's tons of fun to go nightswimming when no one else is around.

Crowd-wise, it was amazing. I remember being in awe when we literally walked onto POTC as our first ride, and the CMs gave us our own boat! We also were able to ride EE repeatedly one morning with no wait, etc. We made very good use of an iPhone app in deciding where to go for the day in terms of avoiding crowds. We never did rope drop or FP either because it wasn't necessary. The longest we waited was for TSMM, as that was always busy, and it was around a 40 minute wait. I didn't really get the appeal of that ride, I mean it was fun, but not worth the wait. But yeah, I would never go any other time of the year to WDW... which is why we're going back the same week this January (19th-29th).

If you're smart about what parks you go to and have an idea as to what to avoid each day, you'll be fine and will more than likely be really stoked that you're going at such a slow time. Oh and yes, there are ride closures but having the ability to go on so many rides without lines is a pretty darn good trade-off if you ask me.

 

[GraceMonica]

It always amazes me how different people's perspectives are while at Disney. We were there this past January, from I think the 19th-28th, or around there, and had absolutely no problem with the weather, except for one night. There were tornado warnings in the area, but it worked well for us as we needed a night in vs. out at a park (because we were pooped!). Other than that, it was not that cold out. We usually found ourselves in t-shirts and shorts during the day, and a hoodie and shorts during the evenings. We went swimming multiple times, as it was in the 70s most days, and even jumped in the pool at GF one night when it was chilly out. I don't mind since the pools are heated and it's tons of fun to go nightswimming when no one else is around.

Crowd-wise, it was amazing. I remember being in awe when we literally walked onto POTC as our first ride, and the CMs gave us our own boat! We also were able to ride EE repeatedly one morning with no wait, etc. We made very good use of an iPhone app in deciding where to go for the day in terms of avoiding crowds. We never did rope drop or FP either because it wasn't necessary. The longest we waited was for TSMM, as that was always busy, and it was around a 40 minute wait. I didn't really get the appeal of that ride, I mean it was fun, but not worth the wait. But yeah, I would never go any other time of the year to WDW... which is why we're going back the same week this January (19th-29th).

If you're smart about what parks you go to and have an idea as to what to avoid each day, you'll be fine and will more than likely be really stoked that you're going at such a slow time. Oh and yes, there are ride closures but having the ability to go on so many rides without lines is a pretty darn good trade-off if you ask me.

Who knows, maybe we'll see each other and not even know it! I'll be there around the same time! I'm super excited

 

[danimaroo]

Who knows, maybe we'll see each other and not even know it! I'll be there around the same time! I'm super excited

Haha, probably! We are staying at BCV. I cannot wait, either! We had such a blast last trip and I can't wait to go again. This countdown is killer though, haha.

 

[GraceMonica]

Haha, probably! We are staying at BCV. I cannot wait, either! We had such a blast last trip and I can't wait to go again. This countdown is killer though, haha.

I'm staying offsite, as I usually do! (putting 11 people in a hotel just costs too much!) My grandparents rent a house down there for 2-3 months so we stay with them. One day I will stay at a Disney Hotel though. I know it wont be for a few years, but it will happen. I feel like time is going by really fast! This year has gone by fast...Which is good, because WDW only comes but once a year for me!

 

[supersuperwendy]

We loved the non existent crowd levels last January. We arrived on Jan. 22 and there were no crowds anywhere! We didn't need fastpass for the whole trip..standby lines were so short. It was great!

 

[TXPyroMom]

My family and i will be in Disney from January 21-28.. we are very excited about the low crowd levels. We have never been in January.

The only thing I am slightly worried about is getting there on the plane. We don't get much snow in Texas, but we do get sleet and ice in Dallas/Fort Worth, and when that happens, the whole metroplex shuts down.

 

[hops&dreams]

I booked out ADR's (Had to make sure to get Chef Mickeys atleast once) but was disappointed Le Cellier is now a signature dining experience. Booo My son always gets a kick out of eating in "Canada" when we are there!
We are going Jan 21-28th so after the Marathon and MLK day!

If you go for lunch (served until 3, I think?) it's still just 1 TS credit on DDP. The menu is very similar, from what I've heard. We're eating lunch there on our last full day. I've read, and been told by our Disney booking CM, that the cheese soup is TOTALLY worth paying out of pocket for. It's less than $5?

 

[GraceMonica]

My family and i will be in Disney from January 21-28.. we are very excited about the low crowd levels. We have never been in January.

The only thing I am slightly worried about is getting there on the plane. We don't get much snow in Texas, but we do get sleet and ice in Dallas/Fort Worth, and when that happens, the whole metroplex shuts down.

Last year, instead of driving home with my family, I flew back to Texas with my sister. WELL. we got stuck in Louisiana and then instead of flying to love field, we had to fly to Houston and drive up to Dallas because of the ice! It was such a bad experience in Texas! So cold! Good luck with everything!